How Bunkie Got Its Name
In 1878 Captain Alexander Haas (not his brother, Samuel) purchased much of the land in this part of Avoyelles Parish, which was then called Irion. In 1882 the Texas and Pacific Railway sought the right of way across Haas land. In exchange for permission to build the railroad, Haas was given the privilege of naming the train station. Through the encouragement of a railroad official, he named the city after his daughter Maccie's nickname. Bunkie. The story goes that Maccie had received this nickname when Capt. Haas had bought her a toy monkey (not a real one as was once rumored). In her excitement, Maccie mispronounced the word "monkey" with "Bunkie". From then on she was called "Bunkie". When Captain Haas presented to the railroad officials that the name of the station would be given the same name as his daughters nickname, he was confronted with push back from some board members. In the end. Captain Haas convinced all those involved and the name Bunkie became an official town in the great state of Louisiana.